Device for launching torpedoes



Feb.3,1948. H 2,435,444

DEVICE FOR LAUNCHING TORPEDOES Filed March 2'7, 1945 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 m I N VEN TOR.

fiJO/P/W/AF Jan stew & r M M ATTORNEY- Feb. 3, 1948.

B. JOHN$EN DEVICE .FOR LAUNCHiNG TORPEDOES Filed March 27, 1945 7/4 F \t V,

2 Sheets-Shae 2 Patented Feb. 3, 1948 UNITED STATES PATENT." OFFICE DEVICE FOR LAUNCHING 'ronrspons Bjornulf Johnson, Summit, N. J assignor to Leonard P. Frieder, New York, N; Y.

1 Application March 27, 1945, Serial No. 585,170

11 Claims. 1

This invention relates to a device for launching torpedoes from aircraft.

It is useful for launching torpedoes that con tain compressed air for driving the propellers of the torpedoes. By the present invention a duct is connected from the compressed air chamberoi the torpedo to the present device in such a that when the torpedo is launched and the compressed air valve is open, the compressed air will reach the device and disconnect it from the cable or shroud lines of a parachute that support the torpedo or the like.

When the torpedo strikes the water, the re leased compressed air-is applied to the device, such as a parachute release, in such a way that the torpedo can proceed on its way. The invention may. be understood from the description in connection Withthe accompanying drawings,.in which Fig. l is a longitudinal section through an illustrative embodiment of the invention;

Fig. 2 is part of a similar section showing portions in difierent relative positions;

Fig. 3 is a section along the line 3--3 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4. is a longitudinal section similar to Fig. 1 through a modification of theinvention;

Fig. is a broken away portion showing parts of Fig. 4 in diilerent positions; and

Fig. 6 is a'similar section showing parts in other positions. H In Fig. 1, reference character I indicates a cable or shroud line which may be attached to a parachute and is connected to the ring 2 which is swivelled on rod 3 that is provided with a cylindrical block 4 and a pin 5 that is rectangular in cross-section and has semi-circular grooves 6 on opposite sides thereof into which rollers I may enter. This pin 5 is also provided with a seat or recess 8 at the lower end for a compression spring 9.

A stirrup ID with a boss which receives the lower end of the spring 9, has upwardly projecting arms l2 provided along their inner edges with semi-circular grooves l3 thereacross. A V-shaped notch I 4 extends across the outer side of one of the arms I. A circular head I6 is provided with a rectangularly-shaped opening I! for the pin 5. Similar openings I8, square in cross-section, are provided in the head 16 for the arms l2. These openings l8 merge into larger openings 20 at a lower point. Screw-plugs 2| with screw driver slots 22 therein are threaded into the upper threaded endsof the openings 18. A hole 23 is provided through one side of the head I6. A spring 24 is 2 located'in the hole 23 and presses a pin 25, which has a conical head 26, inwardly when the threaded plug 21 is screwed into place.

An externally threaded projection 30 is pro vided at the bottom of the head It and has an enlarged opening 30' in its lower portion. A circular block 3| with an internally threaded portion 32 is screwed to the threaded portion 30. The central opening 33 through the block 3! has an enlarged portion 33 to correspond to the opening 30'. V

A circular block or sleeve 35 of the same diameter as the block 3| has a central longitudinal opening 35 therethr'ough meeting with and corresponding to the opening 33. The lower end of the opening 36 is threaded as shown at 3?.

A threaded connecting member or tube 38 has its upper threaded end 39 fitting into the screwthreaded portion 31. It is provided with a central longitudinal opening or duct Ad for compressed air. A Sylphon 0r bellows 42 is hermete ically sealed to the upper end of the tube 38. A plate .43 having an upper rounded surface is provided at the upper end of the Sylphon 42 and bears against the lower end of the stirrup l0.

Reference character 45 indicates an extension on a torpedo that is' to be launched.

The operationis as follows. The torpedo, of which a portion is shown at 45, is carried by the cable I extending from an aircraft or parachute to the ring' 2. When the torpedo strikes the water and the propeller is thereby started inthe normal way, the valve in the compressed air line is opened in the usual way and communication is thereby established with the duct 40. The compressed air passing through this duct into the Sylphon 42 pushes the stirrup I9 and arms i2 upwardly until the head 26 of the pin 25 enters the notch M. The ends of the arms l2 are then contacted with the plugs 2| and 22. At this time the rollers I enter the grooves l3, as shown in Fig. 2. Thereupon, the compression spring 9 pushes the pin 5 out and releases it from the device, whereupon the propeller of the torpedo keeps it on its course while the aircraft or parachute that had carried the torpedo can move away out of the danger zone.

In the modification shown in Figs. 4, 5 and 6, the ring 2 corresponds to the one already described. In this modification the pin 5!], which is rectangular in cross-section, is integral with the plate 5| of the ring 2. A central longitudinal opening 52 in the lower end of pin is circular in cross-section. Aligned transverse holes 53 are provided through the walls of the opening 52.

A spring seat 54 is provided in the lower end of pin 50.

A conically-shaped opening. 6 3. isv providedin,

the lower portion of the head 55. This portion has external threads 64. An elongated block or sleeve 66 is provided with a threaded. portion. 6115 which engages the threads 64. of the extension 5.6.

A tube 68 passes through the nose 45' of the torpedo. Its screw-threaded end 69 is screwed. into. the internal threads 16 at the lower end of the sleeve 66. A Sylphon It islocated. in the opening ll-: of the sleeve 66-. A- pin 15- having. its base 15 contacting with the upper end. of. the Sylphon. I I has its other end 15 shaped conically and extending into the opening 52- between the balls 62. A compression spring 16 of conical. shape is seated in the enlarged opening 11. at theupper end of the sleeve 65 and has its small end. extending into the spring seat 54in the lower end of the pin. 50.

The operation of the device shown in Figs. 4 to 6 is as follows.

When the torpedo is launched, the compressed air in the Sylphon H pushes thepin 13 upwardly, thereby moving the balls. 62 outwardly, thus forcing the cylinders 60 outwardly against the pressure of the springs 51. so that the pin 50. is free to move outandrelease-the torpedo, as shown in.F-igs. 5'and 6. In: view of thefact that the base of the spring I6 is of a. larger diameter than. the hole in which the pin. 50 is inserted, the only portiontha-t is carried away by the aircraft is the ring 2- and pin 50.

What is claimed is:

1. A device for launching torpedoes which comprises a member adapted to. be extended by compressed. air, a carrier for said member to which said member is attached, said carrier being connected to said torpedo; a. pull member. connected to said carrier, and. means operated. by said firstnamed. member adapted to disconnect said carrier from said pull member when said. torpedo is launched.

2. The device of claim 1 in which a compres-- sion spring is adapted to press said pull member outwardly.

3. The device of claim 1 in which a compression spring is adapted to press said pull member outwardly and means are provided to prevent said pull member from becoming accidentally detached.

4. A deflector-launching torpedoeawhich comprises interengagi'ng threaded housing members. a pin, a holder in one of said housing members for said pin, means for retaining said pin in one of. saidhousing members and pneumatically 0perablemea-ns for-releasing said pin.

5.. Adevice for launching torpedoes which comprises threaded": housing members, a pin, a holder in one of said housing members for said pin, means for retaining'said pin in one of said housingmembers, pneumatically operable means for releasing said pin and a spring urging said pin outwardly.

6. The device of claim, 4 in which said pin rctaining means. comprises a roller.

'7. The device of claim 4 in which said pin retaining means comprises a ball;

8; A device for launching and releasing torpedoes which comprises an elongated hollow member, means for connecting said member to a torpedo whereby compressed air in said torpedo can enter said member, means for connecting, said member to a tow line and means operable by said compressed air for disconnecting said tow line from said member. I

9. The device of claim 8 in which said last named meanscomprises a bellows.

10. The device of claim 8 in which said last named means comprises a compression spring.

11. The device of claim 8 in which said last named means comprises a holding member movable at right angles to the center line of said elongated hollow member.

BJORNULF J OI-INSEN;

file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date Weidman Sept. 1', mi 

